9.30.2008

Knights 5+1: On The Move (1967,US)

Another unknown album on the rare Justice label, with covers of Knock On Wood, West Sun, Mustang Sally, Tomatoes, In The Midnight Hour, Barefootin', When A Man Loves A Woman, Land Of A 1,000 Dances, On The Move, Try Me, Don't Lose Your CoolNinety Nine And A Half (Won't Do). and Of all the rediscoveries from the Justice Records library, the Knights 5+1 are one of the most rewarding, a sophisticated multi-racial rhythm-and-blues sextet with a professional veneer to their playing and three qualified lead players (Wilfred Wilson on sax, Ronnie Cook on lead guitar, and Bing McCoy on the organ). The Knights 5+1 had a great lead singer whose name, alas, hasn't lasted in the memory to be passed down to us today. They were based in the area around Charlottesville, Virginia, and undoubtedly played a lot of clubs and dances there-this is one band that would've been worth seeing more than once, and not just for r&b history buffs and oldies fanatics.ALBUM REVIEW

The Knights 5+1 were not only a completely professional band, in contrast to virtually all of the rest of the Justice Records roster, but they were good songwriters as well, based on the evidence of the title-track and a pair of additional instrumentals interspersed among the covers of "In The Midnight Hour," "Mustang Sally,""Land of a Thousand Dances," and "Try Me." Their influences included rock 'n roll and gospel as well as r&b, and they must've held audiences at the University of Virginia and other venues spellbound when they weren't up dancing to the group's music.